Thursday, August 2, 2012

Happy Raksha Bandhan

This Hindi film song pretty much sums up the sentiments afloat in the atmosphere today when sisters are sitting with pujathali in their hands and brothers with their hands stretched forward are waiting for their band of loveknown as rakhis to be tied to their wrists.

Today is the festival of Raksha Bandhan, an eagerly awaited festival in the Hindu calendar and one of my favorites, dedicated to the brother-sister duo. Literally meaning the ‘The Bond of Protection’, Raksha Bandhan falls on the full moon day in the Hindu month of Shravan (July-August) and is a unique way of rejoicing the love and care that binds the relation of a brother and sister together, in a single thread - The Rakhi.

A Colorful Rakhibinding relationships

History is replete with countless events that give us a glimpse of this festival in the past. Thus, we have the lore of Lord Indra who emerged victorious after defeating the demons in a tough battle on account of the protectivethread that was tied by his consort Indrani, Lord Krishna who repaid his debt to the Pandava wife Draupadi after she had nursed his bleeding cut with a piece of her sari, Emperor Humayun who helped his adopted sister Rani Karnavati by sending a huge part of his troupe in times of need after she had made him his brother or the countless women tying rakhis to their opponents and taking them as their brothers in order to protect their honor and dignity.

A decorative 'Gut' or dry coconut given by sisters in law to her brother's wifeas a token of good wish after tying the rakhi

Today, all of these instances have gradually evolved into a full fledged festival celebrating the brother-sister relationship and emphasize the importance and significance of a thread that might look quite simple in a fleeting glance.

The Build Up to the Festival

Preparations for the festival start well in advance. The Indian Bazaars are decked up with shops and stalls selling vivid, vibrant and colorful rakhis with ornate motifs and attractive intricate designs. Step into one of them and you are literally transported in the middle of a huge rakhi pool.

A Rakhi shop in Mumbai

Colorful Rakhis on display

Sisters
- both young and old - get out in hordes and scan various shops
enthusiastically in a bid to buy the best rakhi for their brother. The
shops on their part stack a huge collection of rakhis to lure these
sisters in.

The
fascinating display and the diversity in designs that each of the shop
showcases makes the job of hunting for a suitable rakhi even tougher.

Here, along with the traditionally plain and simple ones hanging down from the rods...

Simple rakhis on sale

you also find the super-heroics spiderman and small Hanumans that your kid brothers so love flaunting,

Cute little Rakhis loved by the kids

and of course, how can themost-sought-afters be left behind - all of them are creatively done and draw you in with their eye catching patterns and prints,

Attractive Rakhi patterns

And there are many many more,

Multihued Rakhis

With the price for these ranging anywhere between Rs. 5 to anything on the upper side, the best thing about them is that their scale is so wide that you can never return home empty handed – there is one for everyone!

Talking of shopping, the brothers don’t have a breather either. They set out to buy presents that they can gift their sisters on the Rakhi Day.

The D-Day Arrives...

Finally, the much awaited day arrives calling for festive family get togethers and jolly merriment. The festival does not limit itself with the traditional combo of brother and sister but takes into its realms the entire family. Such is the beauty of this festival. Thus, rakhis are tied by aunts to sister in laws, to nieces and nephews and by sisters to cousin brothers.

Lumbas, tied to women... by aunts to sister in laws and nieces

It is a festival with no elaborate rituals and traditions and is simply observed reflecting the very simplicity that we see in the soul of the relationship itself.

Hatches are buried to make way for joyous smiles; innocent bickering are left behind for warm hugs and heartfelt wishes... the sister ties herrakhi onto the wrist of her brother and prays for his prosperity and success throughout his life. Sweets are exchanged, big wide smiles flashed. He, in turn, gifts her something she likes, with a promise that He will always be there by her side for her protection and security whenever she will need him.

The sacred bond of Raksha Bandhan

Thus, a simple festival culminates...

With affectionate feelings of love, companionship and camaraderie...

And with a reassuring affirmation that a delicate bond of love will be held tightly,

Come what may...

Happy Raksha Bandhan :-)

PS: Please excuse me for interrupting the Japan series in between. Will continue with it shortly.

@Mareta How sweet! I can imagine how beautiful your colorful Ganesha rakhi must be :) No worries Mareta, if you don't have brother.. you can also tie it to your cousin brothers or uncles :) And yes, I do have one fortunately :)

What a sweet custom! My brother died one month before his 56th birthday in 2003, unfortunately. I guess I would have to wait for my 2 yr old grandson to grow up to be a young man before tying one on his wrist! Beautiful pictures, Arti!

How lovely to see you around! You have been traveling and enjoying the colors of the season, I can see! Oh, India is a place that I may never see, the I have had the pleasure of having teachers, students and friend from India, and their impressive manners and intellect, kindness and hospitality has brought India into my life in some way or another.

thanks for sharing with us this very beautiful tradition Arti, I love and appreciate it, wish we have something like this too, but it is great to learn from other's culture and tradition. I am thinking this where may be the "friendship band" was inspired from.

Nice and colorful post, Arti. These days we see so many types of rakhis..., but the old traditional ones-- 'thread-types'attract me more :)Lovely post...and yes, please do continue with the Japan series...!! Greetings for the occasion..xoxo

Very informative post on Rakhi. There is a good shopping complex just outside our colony and all the shops encroach upon the parking space to put up their stalls with Rakhies of varied hues including from China!. Wishing you all the best.

Happy Raksha Bandhan! There are so many different colors and designs of Rakhis that I can’t decide what is my favorite. I remember, Arti, you made contact with your brother by phone affectionately while you were in Japan. Congratulations on the bond of brother and sister!

Happy Raksha Bandhan! I'd like to see the rakhi you chose for your brother. It may take time to choose from such variety of them. So colorful and beautiful tradition.Brothers wear them till they are worn out?

It is terribly hot here. What about in your part of the world?Take good care of yourself,Arti.

@cosmos Hi Keiko, Yes you are right. It does take a lot of time to choose a rakhi for your brother from such a wide collection. I like the simple ones which don't come with too many frills and I also tie a red thread called 'Moli' along with it. Most of the rakhis are generally removed as the festival day draws out except for one or two that are kept for a few more days. In our tradition, we keep one rakhi for nine days (till 'Guga Navmi') and remove it on the ninth day.

Its summer season in Japan? In India, Its supposed to be rainy right now but in the absence of any rains... its quite hot here as well :(

what a fascinating post and a wonderful tradition to strengthen the relationship between brother and sister. I'm wondering if anyone ever makes their own Rakhis or are they usually purchased? thanks for a most informative post Arti. Happy week to you.

I missed India this year on Raksha Bandhan. With no gewar and an array of beautifully displayed rakhis, it was quite dry. Thanks for the post and lovely shots. Now, I had a visual treat for which I used to go to market before Rakhi in India.

No worries Arti, we will consider this as an interval between the Japan Trip posts.)

I was fortunate enough this time to have my Sister by my side to tie Rakhi on wrist this time. Even my sixth month old Niece tied Rakhi to me. Its a festival which is unique in this world which we are very proud of. Loved all the pictures.See because of you I am back on Blogging and have just blogged.Thanks for all your inspiration :)

I have two elder brothers and they have been so protective to me ... I was away to tie rakhi to one of my brothers who lives about 6 hrs from chennai. I just came back recently and was enjoying all your posts : )I will not be able to do this in person next year as he has changed company to a place called roha near mumbai !! but I wish him all luck as a sister

Beautiful and complete description of Raksha Bandhan.. I saw "Perk" among the pics.. I am happy you kept the pic, coz now-a-days sisters are never happy with a chocolate.. Shopping spree is what is needed. And as brothers, we oblige :D

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Hi there! I am Arti - a 20 something girl with an inherited travel gene, often found on the road travelling with my best friend, inspiration and guide - my father. I love travelling to spiritual places and consider my external yatras as continuous learning journeys within; a journey where I seek to discover and experience the real treasures of this life someday. Besides helping my own self, this blog of mine also aims to help those planning to make a trip to these places or simply provide a virtual tour to the rest.
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